AU717316B2

AU717316B2 - Biaxially oriented polypropylene film having improved water vapor and oxygen barrier properties

Info

Publication number: AU717316B2
Application number: AU54660/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Detlef Busch; Thomas Dries; Herbert Peiffer; Gunter Schlogl; Andreas Winter
Original assignee: Hoechst AG
Current assignee: Hoechst AG
Priority date: 1995-05-31
Filing date: 1996-05-30
Publication date: 2000-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-30
Also published as: KR960040648A; CA2178111A1; MXPA96002071A; BR9602569A; EP0747212A1; JPH091652A; AU5466096A

Description

Our Ref: 595417 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

C.

C S

C

see* 0000 -0 .0 *9 Applicant(s): Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft D-65926 Frankfurt Am Main

GERMANY

Address for Service: Invention Title: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Biaxially oriented polypropylene film having improved water vapor and oxygen barrier properties The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020

I

-I

Description Biaxially oriented polypropylene film having improved water vapor and oxygen barrier properties The invention relates to a biaxially oriented, at least single-ply polypropylene film having improved barrier properties, in particular with regard to the passage of water vapor and oxygen, to a process for its production and to its use.

Biaxially oriented polypropylene films are known. The films are generally multilayer films produced by coextrusion by the so-called stenter process.

In this process, the polymers are melted and homogenized in extruders. The melts are filtered and brought together in a slot die, where the multilayer melt film is extruded. The melt film is cast onto a chill roll, where 15 it solidifies to give an unoriented film.

S: The film is subsequently biaxially oriented by stretching in the longitudinal and transverse directions. After transverse stretching, the film is cooled to room temperature and trimmed at both edges, the thickness profile is measured, and the film is, if desired, surface treated. The film is subsequently wound up and packaged to give the cut roll ready for the customer.

The properties of the boPP films which are relevant for use are determined principally by the biaxial orientation. boPP films have high mechanical strengths, a good barrier action, good dimensional stability at elevated temperature, a sparkling appearance and excellent flat lying as a consequence of an excellent thickness profile.

On the basis of these good properties and excellent processing properties, boPP films are used in a wide variety of applications. The most important market -2segment is packaging, which accounts for about 70% of the amount produced. In addition, boPP films are used in technical applications. Emphasis should be made of metallization, lamination and use of the film as electrical insulation in the production of capacitors.

In films used in the packaging sector, the improvement of barrier properties, in particular with respect to the passage of water vapor and oxygen, has recently increased in importance. For cost and environmental reasons, the packaging industry desires ever-thinner films with the same or improved barrier properties and the same smooth running through the machine.

The barrier properties deteriorate overproportionally with the reduction in film thickness. The protective 15 action of the film for preventing spoiling of the contents is greatly restricted owing to the poorer barrier .properties of thin films. The product wrapped in thinner film has a shorter shelf life owing to the poorer barrier properties of the film. This results in earlier product return and thus higher costs for the producer. Thinner films also have poorer rigidity and thus substantially poorer running characteristics in the machine, in particular in today's high-speed wrapping machines.

.Increasing the water vapor and oxygen barrier of boPP films, as well as improving the modulus of elasticity (E modulus), has long been the subject of intensive efforts, r because these properties are directly related to the suitability for use of the film and also directly determine the processing behavior.

The barrier action of boPP films with respect to water vapor (WVT) and oxygen (OT) decreases with film thickness. In the conventional thickness range of boPP films (4 to 100 gm), there is, for example, approximately a hyperbolic relationship (WVT d const.) between the water vapor barrier action (WVT) and the thickness 3 The constant essentially depends on the raw material composition and the stretching conditions. For boPP packaging films according to the prior art, the constant has a value of about: const. 28 g Aim/m 2 d. The water vapor transmission was measured here according to DIN 53 122. Product surveys for boPP films from Mobil Plastics Europe and Hoechst AG reveal that, for example, the water vapor transmission of a 25 jm thick boPP film is 1.0 g/m 2 d and that of a 40 m thick boPP film is 0.7 g/m 2 d.

The information given above for water vapor barrier action can be applied directly to the oxygen barrier action OT. There is likewise approximately a hyperbolic relationship here between barrier action and thickness.

A typical value for the constant here is about: const. S38,000 /im (cm 3 /m 2 d bar). The oxygen transmission was measured here in accordance with DIN 53 380 or ASTM D 1434. The product surveys mentioned above reveal that, for example, the oxygen transmission of a 25 jim thick 20 boPP film is 1600 cm 3 /m 2 d bar and that of a 40 im thick boPP film is 900 cm 3 /m 2 d bar.

It is known that, in the case of boPP films, the barrier properties can be increased either by means of raw material modification or process engineering or a combi- 25 nation of the two possibilities.

US-A-4,921,749 EP-A-0 247 898, Exxon) describes a sealable boPP film having improved barrier properties with regard to the passage of water vapor and oxygen. The mechanical and optical properties, as well as the sealability of the film are also improved. All improvements result from the addition of a low molecular weight resin to the base ply. The amount of resin is between 3 and by weight. The resin has a molecular weight of substantially less than 5,000, preferably less than 1,000, and is, for example, 600. The softening point of the resin is 120 to 140 0

C.

4 EP-A-O 468 333 (Hoechst) describes a sealable film having improved barrier properties with regard to the passage of water vapor and oxygen in combination with good sliding properties and low shrinkage values. The characterizing features of this boPP film are that it is composed of a base ply which comprises a polypropylene and a hydrocarbon resin having a softening point greater than 140 0

C,

and that it has at least one sealable top ply which, if required, additionally contains a hydrocarbon resin. The base ply and the top ply contain at least one anti-blocking agent and/or one lubricant.

In US-A-4,921,749 and EP-A-0 468 333, high concentrations of hydrocarbon resin are used in order to enhance the barrier properties. Such high resin contents lead to problems in film production. In particular, resin deposits occur on the screw of the extruder and on the oooo longitudinal stretching rolls after a short time. Owing to the high resin contents, the films have high highego temperature blocking values and exhibit a troublesome ooo• 20 tendency to block during further processing.

DE 433 28 35 describes a boPP film having improved ego• mechanical and barrier properties in which the n-heptaneinsoluble component of the film has a chain isotactic index, measured by 1 3 C-NMR spectroscopy, of at least According to the invention, the base ply contains essentially no synthetic resin.

A process engineering way of improving the barrier properties of boPP films is to orient the films to a greater extent. One way of producing polypropylene films having better barrier properties is a three- or multistep stretching process, as described, for example, in EP-B- 0 116 457. However, a production process of this type has the disadvantage of requiring an additional apparatus for subsequent longitudinal stretching and is consequently very expensive. In addition, it is very susceptible to problems during production, for example tearing of the 5 film.

Furthermore, such subsequently longitudinally stretched films exhibit longitudinal shrinkage which is substantially higher compared with only biaxially stretched films and which as a rule prevents the films from withstanding thermal drying, as is still usual in some cases, for example after application of adhesive materials, without undesirable shrink folds.

The object of the present invention was to provide a biaxially oriented polypropylene film which is distinguished by enhanced barrier properties with regard to the passage of water vapor and oxygen. The disadvantages of the subsequent longitudinal stretching process, such as technical conversions in the production machine, breakdowns due to frequent tearing of the film and high residual shrinkage of the boPP films, are to be avoided.

Furthermore, it must be ensured that the regenerated material can be added again in a concentration of 20 to by weight, based on the total weight of the film.

The film must be capable of being produced so that it runs reliably and withstands the process at production speeds of up to 400 m/min. Other physical film properties which are required with regard to the use thereof as packaging film and/or as laminating film must not be 25 adversely affected. The film should have a high gloss, no optical defects in the form of specks or bubbles, good scratch resistance, trouble-free running even with low film thickness on high-speed packaging machines and, in the case of transparent film types, little haze of the film.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a biaxially oriented polypropylene film having at least one base ply which contains polypropylene, wherein the polypropylene used in the base ply is one whose characteristic features are that the mean isotactic block length of the polypropylene 6 molecule between two structural chain defects is, as a statistical average, greater than the n-heptane-insoluble fraction of the polypropylene has a chain isotactic index of at least 95%, measured by means of 13 C-NMR spectroscopy, the ratio of the weight average Mw to the number average Mn as a molecular weight distribution of less than 4 and the n-heptane-soluble fraction of the polypropylene is less than and the water vapor transmission is s 24/thickness in Am [g/m 2 d] and the oxygen transmission is s 34,000/ thickness in m [cm 3 /(m 2 d bar)].

The subclaims indicate preferred embodiments of the invention, which are additionally explained below.

According to the invention, the film may be multilayer or single-ply and is then composed only of the base ply o .o described below. For the purposes of the present invention, the base ply is that ply which has the greatest thickness of all plies present. In general, the base ply in multilayer embodiments accounts for at least preferably 50 to 98%, of the total film thickness.

In the multilayer embodiment, the film has, on its base ply, at least one top ply or if required top plies on both sides, which form the outer plies of the film. In a further multilayer embodiment, the film has on its base ply at least one interlayer or if required interlayers on a, both sides.

The base ply of the film contains in general at least 85-100% by weight, preferably 90-99% by weight, in particular 90-95% by weight, based in each case on the base ply of a propylene polymer described below, which differs substantially in structure from the conventional isotactic propylene polymers which are usually used in the base ply of boPP films. These structural differences 7 can be achieved by the preparation of the propylene polymers by means of novel metallocene catalysts.

A feature of this structural difference is a mean isotactic block length of propylene polymer between two structural chain defects of at least 40, preferably at least 60 and in particular at least 70 propylene units.

The polypropylene used according to the invention may be characterized by means of further parameters which are associated with the particular structure of the polymer.

In addition to a defined mean isotactic block length, the polypropylene is distinguished by a particularly low nheptane-soluble fraction which is in general less than by weight, preferably 0 to 0.6% by weight and in particular is in the range from 0.5 to 0.005% by weight, 15 based in each case on the weight of the starting polymer.

The n-heptane-insoluble fraction of the propylene polymer is in general highly isotactic. The chain isotactic index, determined by means of 13C-NMR spectroscopy, of the n-heptane-insoluble fraction is at least 20 preferably at least 96% and in particular at least 97 to 99%.

The molecular weight distribution is a further suitable parameter for characterizing the polymer structure. It is advantageously comparatively narrow. The ratio of the o. 25 weight average Mw to the number average M n is preferably less than 4, especially less than 3. It is in particular in the range from 1.5 to 2.7.

It was completely surprising that, in spite of the extremely low n-heptane-soluble fraction, the high chain isotactic index and the very narrow molecular weight distribution, these novel polypropylenes can be stretched to give biaxially oriented polypropylene films.

Furthermore, it was very surprising that the films 8 produced from the novel polymer have substantially improved barrier properties, in particular an enhanced barrier action with regard to the passage of water vapor and oxygen.

The propylene polymer having the structure described above contains in general at least 90% by weight, preferably 94 to 100% by weight, in particular 98 to 100% by weight, of propylene units. The corresponding comonomer content of not more than 10% by weight or 0 to 6% by weight or 0 to 2% by weight comprises, where present, in general ethylene. The data in by weight are based in each case on the propylene polymer. The melting point is in general in the range from 140 to 175°C, preferably from 150 to 165 0 C and in particular from 155 to 162°C, and the melt flow index (measurement according to DIN 53 735 at 21.6 N load and 230°C) is 1.0 to 30 min, preferably from 1.5 to 20 g/10 min and in particular 2.0 to 16 g/10 min.

The polypropylene described above can advantageously be 20 prepared by processes known per se in which metallocene catalysts are used. The preparation of these sees polypropylenes is not the subject of the present invention. The corresponding processes have already been Sdescribed in EP-A-0 302 424, EP-A-0 336 128 and goe 25 EP-A-0 336 127 and EP-A-0 576 970, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

9 ,se It has been found that the structural differences of the polypropylene which are due to its preparation by means of a metallocene catalyst are advantageous for the barrier properties of the film produced therefrom. The oxygen and water-vapor barrier action is substantially improved in the case of films having a base ply comprising metallocene PP than in the case of films comprising general purpose PP.

The conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts have a plurality 9 of different polymerization-active centers, each of which prepares a different polymer. This leads to chains having very different molecular weights. In practice, both waxy polymers having chain lengths M. of less than 10,000 and ultra high molecular weight polymers having an Mn greater than 1,000,000 are obtained. At the same time, the active centers vary in their stereospecificity. The spectrum ranges from completely unspecific centers through syndiospecific centers to isospecific centers, the latter in turn having different isospecificity. This leads to a product mixture comprising atactic polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene and isotactic polypropylene having different crystallinities, i.e. having different melting points. Syndiotactic polypropylene leads to warping of the film, atactic polypropylene to exudation (migration) and a reduction in the film hardness and isotactic polypropylene is a material having different melting points, i.e. is not a uniform product.

Small fluctuations in the polymerization conditions lead e.

20 to fluctuations in the composition of the three characteristic chain types, i.e. once again to a different product which cannot be uniquely characterized.

On the other hand, the metallocene catalysts have a polymerization center which can be uniquely characterized to respective desirable polymer types by variation of the metallocene-ligand sphere. The distribution of the chain length is uniform. The Mw/M n is small and between 1.7 and preferably between 1.8 and 3.0 and very particularly between 2.0 and 2.7 (Schultz-Florey distribution).

Furthermore, the active centers also have a uniform stereospecificity, which leads to chains having a uniform melting point or chains having uniform stereospecific structure. Thus, polymer chains which differ only slightly in their mean isotactic block lengths are formed. This is also reflected in a uniform melting point.

10 The base ply of the film according to the invention can, if.required, contain conventional additives in respective effective amounts in addition to the metallocene propylene polymer described above. Conventional additives are antiblocking agents, neutralizing agents, stabilizers, antistatic agents and/or lubricants.

Preferred antistatic agents are alkali metal alkanesulfonates, polyether-modified, i.e. ethoxylated and/or propoxylated polydiorganosiloxanes (polydialkylsiloxanes, polyalkylphenylsiloxanes and the like) and/or the essentially straight-chain and saturated aliphatic, tertiary amines which have an aliphatic radical having to 20 carbon atoms and are substituted by w-hydroxy-(C 1

C

4 )-alkyl groups, N,N-bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-alkylamines having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 18 carbon atoms, in the alkyl radical being particularly suitable.

The effective amount of antistatic agent is in the range from 0.05 to 0.5% by weight. Furthermore, glyceryl monostearate is preferably used as an antistatic agent, 20 in an amount of 0.03% to Suitable antiblocking agents are inorganic additives, such as silica, calcium carbonate, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, calcium phosphate and the like, and/or incompatible organic polymers, such as polyamides, 25 polyesters, polycarbonates and the like, preferably benzoguanamine/formaldehyde polymers, silica and calcium carbonate. The effective amount of antiblocking agent is in the range from 0.1 to 2% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 0.8% by weight. The mean particle size is between 1 and 6 jim, in particular 2 and 5 jim, particles having a spherical shape, as described in EP-A-0 236 945 and DE-A- 38 01 535, being particularly suitable.

Lubricants are higher aliphatic amides, higher aliphatic esters, waxes and metal soaps as well as polydimethylsiloxanes. The effective amount of lubricant is in the range from 0.01 to 3% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 1% by 11 weight. The addition of higher aliphatic amides in the range from 0.01 to 0.25% by weight to the base ply is particularly suitable. A particularly suitable aliphatic amide is erucamide. The addition of polydimethylsiloxanes in the range from 0.02 to 2.0% by weight is preferred, in particular polydimethylsiloxanes having a viscosity from 5,000 to 1,000,000 mm2/s.

The stabilizers used can be the conventional compounds having a stabilizing action for ethylene polymers, propylene polymers and other a-olefin polymers. The added amount thereof is between 0.05 and 2% by weight.

Phenolic stabilizers, alkali metal stearates/alkaline earth metal stearates and/or alkali metal carbonates/ alkaline earth metal carbonates are particularly suitable. Phenolic stabilizers in an amount from 0.1 to 0.6% by weight, in particular 0.15 to 0.3% by weight, and with a molecular mass of more than 500 g/mol are preferred. Pentaerythrityl tetrakis-3-(3,5-di-tertiarybutyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate or 1,3,5-trimethyl- 20 2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene are particularly advantageous.

Neutralizing agents are preferably dihydrotalcite, calcium stearate and/or calcium carbonate having a mean particle size of at most 0.7 Am, an absolute particle 25 size of less than 10 Am and a specific surface area of at least 40 m 2 /g.

In a preferred multilayer embodiment, the polypropylene film according to the invention comprises at least one top ply or if necessary top plies on both sides, composed of polymers of a-olefins having 2 to 10 carbon atoms. In general, the top ply contains at least 70% by weight, preferably 80 to 100% by weight, in particular 90 to 98% by weight, of the a-olefinic polymers, based in each case on the weight of the top ply and any additives in effective amounts in each case.

12 Examples of such a-olefinic polymers are a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene and propylene or ethylene and 1-butylene or propylene and 1-butylene or a terpolymer of ethylene and propylene and 1-butylene or a mixture of two or more of the stated homo-, coand terpolymers or a blend of two or more of the stated homo-, co- and terpolymers, if necessary mixed with one or more of the stated homo-, co- and terpolymers, in particular a propylene homopolymer or a random ethylene/propylene copolymer having an ethylene content of 1 to 10% by weight, preferably 2.5 to 8% by weight, or a random propylene/1-butylene copolymer having a butylene content of 2 to 25 by weight, preferably 4 to 20% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the copolymer, or a random ethylene/propylene/1-butylene terpolymer having an ethylene content of 1 to 10% by weight, preferably 2 to 6% by weight, and a 1-butylene content of 2 to 20% by weight, preferably 4 to 20% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the 30 terpolymer, or a blend of an ethylene/propylene/1-butylene terpolymer and a propylene/1-butylene copolymer having an ethylene content of 0.1 to 7% by weight and a propylene content of 50 to 90% by weight and a 1-butylene content of 10 to 40% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the polymer blend, 13 being preferred.

The propylene homopolymer used in the top ply has a melting point of 140 0 C or higher, preferably 150 to 165 0 C. Isotactic homopolypropylene having an n-heptanesoluble fraction of 6% by weight or less, based on the isotactic homopolypropylene, is preferred. The homopolymer has in general a melt flow index of 1.0 min to 20 g/10 min.

The copolymers and terpolymers preferably used in the top ply and described above have in general a melt flow index of 1.5 to 30 g/10 min. The melting point is preferably in the range from 120 to 140 0 C. The blend of copolymer and terpolymer, described above, has a melt flow index of to 9 g/10 min and a melting point of 120 to 150°C. All melt flow indices stated above are measured at 230 0 C and under a force of 21.6 N (DIN 53 735).

In a dull embodiment, the top ply additionally contains a high density polyethylene (HDPE) which is mixed or blended with the top ply polymers described above. The 20 composition and details of the dull top plies are described, for example, in EP 0 563 796 or EP 0 622, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The top ply or plies may also contain the metallocenecatalyzed propylene polymer described above for the base ply.

a If required, the additives described above for the base ply, such as antistatic agents, antiblocking agents, lubricants, neutralizing agents and stabilizers, may be added to the top ply or top plies. The stated amounts in these above embodiments are based on the corresponding weight of the top ply. In a preferred embodiment, the top ply or plies contains or contain a combination of antiblocking agent, preferably Sio 2 and lubricant, preferably polydimethylsiloxane.

14 The film according to the invention comprises at least the base ply described above, preferably at least one top ply. Depending on its intended use, the film may have a further top ply on the opposite side. If required, an interlayer or interlayers can be applied on one or both sides between the base ply and the top ply or plies.

Preferred embodiments of the polypropylene film according to the invention are three-ply. The structure, thickness and composition of a second top ply can be chosen independently of the top ply already present, and the second top ply may likewise contain one of the polymers or polymer mixtures which are described above but which need not be identical to that of the first top ply. The second top ply may, however, also contain other conventional top ply polymers.

The thickness of the top ply or plies is generally oo greater than 0.1 m and is preferably in the range from 0.1 to 10 Am, preferably in the range from 0.3 to 3 Am, in particular 0.4 to 1.5 im, and top plies on both sides 20 may be of equal or different thickness.

The interlayer or interlayers may comprise the a-olefinic polymers described for the top plies. In a preferred embodiment, the interlayer or interlayers comprises or comprise the propylene polymer described for the base ply. The interlayer or interlayers may contain the conventional additives described for the individual plies. The thickness of the interlayer or interlayers is generally greater than 0.3 Jm and is preferably in the range from 1.0 to 15 pm, in particular 1.5-10 pm.

The total thickness of the polypropylene film according to the invention may vary within wide limits and depends on the intended use. It is preferably 4 to 100 pm, in particular 5-60 pm, preferably 6-30 pm, the base ply accounting for about 40 to 100% of the total film thickness.

15 The invention furthermore relates to a process for producing the polypropylene film according to the invention by the coextrusion process known per se.

In this process, the melt or melts corresponding to the ply or to the individual plies of the film is or are coextruded through a flat die, the film thus obtained is drawn off on one or more rollers for solidification, the film is then biaxially stretched (oriented) and the biaxially stretched film is thermofixed and, if required, corona-treated or flame-treated on the surface ply intended for treatment.

The biaxial stretching (orientation) is generally carried out successively, the successive biaxial stretching, in which stretching is first carried out longitudinally (in the machine direction) and then transversely (perpendicular to the machine direction), being preferred.

ooo.

Firstly, the polymer or the polymer mixture of the individual plies is compressed and liquefied in an extruder, as is usual in the coextrusion process, and the -20 additives added if required may already be present in the polymer or in the polymer mixture. The melts are then simultaneously forced through a slot die (flat film die), to •and the extruded multilayer film is drawn off on one or more draw-off rollers, during which it cools and solid- 25 ifies.

00.0The film thus obtained is then stretched longitudinally and transversely relative to the extrusion direction, e* which leads to orientation of the molecular chains. The longitudinal stretching is expediently carried out with the aid of two rollers running at different speeds corresponding to the desired stretching ratio, and the transverse stretching is carried out with the aid of an appropriate tenter frame. The longitudinal stretching ratios are in the range from 3 to 9, preferably 4.5-8.5.

The transverse stretching ratios are in the range from 4 16 to 12, preferably 5-11, in particular 7 to The biaxial stretching of the film is followed by its heat setting (heat treatment), the film being kept for about 0.1 to 10 s at a temperature of 100 to 160 0 C. The film is then wound up in the usual manner by means of a winding device.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous to keep the draw-off roller or rollers, by means of which the extruded film is cooled and solidified, at a temperature of 10 to 100 0 C, preferably 20-70 0 C, by a heating and cooling circulation.

The temperatures at which longitudinal and transverse stretching are carried out may be varied within a relatively wide range and depend on the desired properties of the film. In general, longitudinal stretching is preferably carried out at 80 to 170C, preferably 80-150 0 C and *oo.

transverse stretching preferably at 100 to 200 0 C, preferably 120-170C.

After the biaxial stretching, one or both surfaces of the film are preferably corona-treated or flame-treated by one of the known methods. The intensity of treatment is o in general in the range from 37 to 50 mN/m, preferably 39 to 45 mN/m.

In an expedient corona treatment, the film is passed between two conductor elements serving as electrodes, such a high voltage, in most cases alternating voltage (about 5 to 20 kV and 5 to 30 kHz), being applied between the electrodes that spray discharges or corona discharges can take place. Due to the spray discharge or corona discharge, the air above the film surface is ionized and reacts with the molecules of the film surface so that polar spots are formed in the essentially nonpolar polymer matrix.

17 For a flame treatment with a polarized flame (cf. US-A- 4,622,237), a direct electric'voltage is applied between a burner (negative pole) and a cooling roller. The level of the applied voltage is between 400 and 3,000 V, preferably in the range from 500 to 2,000 V. Owing to the applied voltage, the ionized atoms experience increased acceleration and impinge at higher kinetic energy on the polymer surface. The chemical bonds within the polymer molecule are more readily broken, and the formation of free radicals proceeds more rapidly. The thermal stress on the polymer is in this case far less than in the standard flame treatment, and films can be obtained in which the sealing properties of the treated side are even better than those of the untreated side.

The film according to the invention is distinguished by improved barrier properties, in particular to water vapor 0° and oxygen. In the 25 gm thick film described at the outset under prior art, having a water vapor transmission of 1.1 g/m 2 d, the water vapor barrier action can be :o 20 reduced to 0.9 g/m 2 d.

oooo The novel films also have an improved barrier action to the passage of oxygen. In the 25 gm thick film described S"at the outset under prior art, having an oxygen transmission of 1600 cm 3 /m 2 d bar, hydrocarbon resin, for 25 example, can reduce the oxygen barrier action to 1300 cm 3 /m 2 d bar.

The following methods of measurement were used for characterizing the raw materials and the films: Melt flow index The melt flow index was measured according to DIN 53 735 at 21.6 N load and 230 0

C.

Melting point DSC measurement, maximum of the melting curve, heating rate 18 Water vapor and oxygen transmission The water vapor transmission is determined according to DIN 53 122 Part 2. The oxygen barrier effect is determined according to Draft DIN 53 380 Part 3 at an atmospheric humidity of 53%.

Haze The haze of the film was measured according to ASTM-D 1003-52.

Gloss The gloss was determined according to DIN 67 530. The reflector value was measured as an optical characteristic of the surface of a film. Analogously to the standards ASTM-D 523-78 and ISO 2813, the angle of incidence was set at 60 or 85. At the set angle of incidence, a light beam strikes the planar test surface and is reflected or scattered by the latter. The light beams incident on the oeo0 photoelectronic receiver are indicated as a proportional electric value. The measured value is dimensionless and eooe :..must be quoted with the angle of incidence.

*eee Surface tension *o The surface tension was determined by means of the socalled ink method (DIN 53 364) Printability The corona-treated films were printed on 14 days after their production (short-term evaluation) or 6 months after their production (long-term evaluation). The ink adhesion was evaluated by means of the self-adhesive tape test. The ink adhesion was rated as moderate if little ink could be removed by means of self-adhesive tape and was rated as poor if a substantial amount of ink could be removed.

Tensile strength, elongation at break The tensile strength and the elongation at break are determined according to DIN 53455.

19 Modulus of elasticity The modulus of elasticity is determined according to DIN 53 457 or ASTM 882.

Determination of the high-temperature blocking characteristics To measure the high-temperature blocking characteristics, two wooden blocks adhesively bonded to felt on one side and having the dimensions 72 mm x 41 mm x 13 mm are wrapped and sealed in the film to be measured. A weight of 200 g is placed on the wooden blocks positioned so that the felt coverings face one another, and this set-up is introduced into a heating oven preheated to 70 0 C and is left there for 2 hours. Thereafter, cooling is effected for 30 minutes to room temperature the weight is removed from the wooden blocks and the upper block is pulled off the lower block by means of a mechanical apparatus. The evaluation is effected over 4 individual measurements, from which a maximum pull-off force (measured in N) is then determined. The specifica- 20 tion is met if none of the individual measurements is above 5 N.

Molecular weight determination :The average molecular weight Mw and MN (average weight M.

and average number M n and the mean inhomogeneity of the 25 molecular mass were determined analogously to DIN 55 672, Part 1, by means of gel permeation chromatography.

Instead of THF, ortho-dichlorobenzene was used as the eluant. Since the olefinic polymers to be investigated are not soluble at room temperature, the entire measurement is carried out at an elevated temperature (135 0

C).

Isotactic content The isotactic content of the homopolymer and also the isotactic content of the film can be characterized approximately by means of the insoluble fraction of the raw material or of the film in a suitable solvent. It has proven expedient to use n-heptane. Usually, a 20 Soxhlet extraction with boiling n-heptane is carried out.

In order to obtain good reproducibility, it is expedient to fill the Soxhlet apparatus with a compact instead of granules. The thickness of the compact should not exceed 500 micrometers. For the quantitative determination of the atactic content of the polymer, it is of decisive importance to ensure sufficient extraction time. As a rule, the extraction time is in the range from 8 to 24 hours.

The operational definition of the isotactic content PPiso in percent is given by the ratio of the weights of the dried n-heptane-insoluble fraction to the sample weight: PP.s 100 x (n-heptane-insoluble fraction/sample weight) 15 An analysis of the dried n-heptane extract shows that, as a rule, it does not comprise pure atactic propylene polymer. In the extraction, aliphatic and olefinic oligomers, in particular isotactic oligomers, and also possible additives, such as, for example, hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins, are also measured.

Chain isotactic index The isotactic content PPiso defined above is not sufficient for characterizing the chain isotacticity of the polymer. It proves to be useful to determine the chain isotactic index II of the propylene polymer by means of high-resolution C-NMR spectroscopy, the NMR sample chosen being not the original raw material but its nheptane-insoluble fraction. To characterize the isotacticity of polymer chains, 13 C-NMR spectroscopic triad isotactic index II (triads) is used in practise.

Determination of the triad-related chain isotactic index II (triads) The chain isotactic index II (triads) of the n-heptaneinsoluble content of the polymer and of the film is 21 determined from the 1 3 C-NMR spectrum of said homopolymer or of said film. The intensities of triad signals which result from the methyl groups with different local environments are compared.

With regard to the evaluation of the 13C-NMR spectrum, a distinction must be made between two cases: A) The raw material investigated is a pure propylene homopolymer without a random C 2 content.

B) The raw material investigated is a propylene polymer having a low random C 2 content, referred to below as

C

2

-C

3 -copolymer.

Case A: The chain isotactic index of the homopolymer is determined from its C-NMR spectrum. The intensities of the 15 signals which result from the methyl groups with different environments are compared. In the 1C-NMR .spectrum of a homopolymer, essentially three groups of signals, so-called triads, occur.

1. At a chemical shift of about 21 to 22 ppm, the "mm- 20 triad" occurs and is assigned to the methyl groups having methyl groups directly adjacent on the left and right.

2. At a chemical shift of about 20.2 to 21 ppm, the "mr-triad" occurs and is assigned to the methyl 25 groups having methyl groups directly adjacent on the left or right.

3. At a chemical shift of about 19.3 to 20 ppm, the "rr-triad" occurs and is assigned to the methyl groups without directly adjacent methyl groups.

The intensities of the signal groups assigned are determined as the integral of the signals. The chain 22 isotactic index is defined as follows: II triads Jm 0.5 Jmr Jmm Jmr Jrr 100 where Jmm Jmr and Jrr are the integrals of the signal groups assigned.

Case B: From a 3 C-NMR spectrum of an ethylene/propylene copolymer, the chemical shift of the methyl groups of interest is in the range from 19 to 22 ppm. The spectrum of the methyl groups can be divided into three blocks. In these blocks, the CH 3 groups appear in triad sequences, whose assignment to the local environments is explained in detail below: a.

a Block 1:

CH

3 groups in the PPP sequence (mm- triad) C- C-C-C-C- -c-c-c-c-c-c- Block 2:

CH

3 groups in the PPP sequence (mr- or rm-triads) -rC-tC-hC-eC-C-C-ci Sgroups in the EPP sequence (m-chain) iCH 3 1 groups in the EPP sequence (m-chain): 23 9 C

-C-C-C-C-C-C-

Block 3

CH

3 groups in the PPP sequence (rr-triads):

-C-C-C-C-C-C-

I

C C

CH

3 groups in an EPP sequence (r-chain): S* -C-C-C-C-C-C- -c-c-c-c-c-ci ;CH 3 groups in an EPE 'sequence: 5 In the determination of the triad-related chain isotactic index II (triads) of the n-heptane-insoluble content of an ethylene/propylene copolymer, only PPP triads were considered, only those propylene units which are present between two adjacent propylene units (cf. also EP-B-0 115 940, page 3, lines 48 and 49).

The definition of the triad isotactic index of an ethylene/propylene copolymer is: II (triads) 100 x (Jm/Jppp) Calculation of the chain isotactic index of an ethylene/ propylene copolymer: 1. Jm is given by the peak integral of block 1.

24 2. Calculate the integral (Jtotal) of all methyl group peaks in blocks 1, 2 and 3.

3. By simple considerations, it is possible to show that Jppp JtotalJEPP-JEPE' Sample preparation and measurement: to 100 mg of polypropylene are weighed into a 10 mm NMR tube, and hexachlorobutadiene and tetrachloroethane in a ratio of about 1.5 1 are added until a fill height of about 45 mm is reached. The suspension is stored at about 140 0 C until (as a rule about one hour) a homogeneous solution has formed. In order to accelerate the dissolution process, the sample is stirred from time to e* time with a glass rod.

1 The C-NMR spectrum is recorded at an elevated temperature (as a rule 365 K) under standard measuring conditions (semiquantitatively).

Mean isotactic block length niso o The mean isotactic block length niso is determined from S: the 13 C-NMR spectrum according to the formula niso 1 20 2 Jm/Jmr.

Preparation of the propylene polymers The propylene polymers were prepared with the aid of metallocene catalysts by the polymerization reactions described by way of example below: Example 1 A dry reactor having the capacity of 150 dm 3 was flushed with nitrogen and filled, at 20°C, with 80 dm 3 of a naphtha cut having a boiling range of from 100 to 120 0

C.

The gas space was then flushed free from nitrogen by 5 flushing operations with propylene under a pressure of 2 bar and decompression.

25 After the addition of 50 1 of liquid propylene, 64 cm 3 of solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (corresponding to 100 mmol of Al, molecular weight according to cryoscopic determination 1000 g/mol) were added and the reactor content was heated to 50°C. Hydrogen content in the gas space of the reactor of 1.2% was established by metering in hydrogen and was subsequently kept constant by further metering during the entire polymerization time (checking on-line by gas chromatography.

20 mg of the metallocene rac-dimethylsilanediylbis- (2-methyl-4, 6-diisopropyl-1-indenyl) zirconium dichloride were dissolved in 16 ml of a solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (corresponding to 25 mmol of Al) o'o and were added to the reactor.

15 The reactor was kept at 50 0 C for 10 hours by cooling, after which the polymerization was stopped by adding 50 dm 3 of CO 2 gas and the polymer formed was separated off from the suspension medium and was dried.

21.9 kg of polymer powder, corresponding to a metallocene activity of 109.5 kg PP/g metallocene h were obtained.

The polymer is characterized by the following further data: Viscosity VN: 228 cm 3 /g Average molecular weight Mw: 225 000 g/mol M/Mn: Melting point Tm: 150°C Melt flow index MFI: 7.0 g/10 min Mean isotactic block length niso: about Isotactic index: about 97.5% Example 2 The polymerization of Example 1 was repeated, but the metallocene rac-dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,5-benzo- 1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride was used. The polymerization temperature was 60 0 C, and polymerization was carried out for 6.5 hours. The metallocene activity 26 in this case was 173 kg PP/g metallocene is characterized by the further data as Viscosity VN: Average molecular weight Mw: Mw/Mn: Melting point Tm: Melt flow index MFI: Mean isotactic block length niso: Isotactic index: h. The polymer follows: 258 cm 3 /g 302 000 g/mol 2.3 147 0

C

4.3 g/10 min about about 97.5% a.

a Example 3 The polymerization of Example 1 was repeated, but 10 mg of the metallocene rac-dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4phenyl-l-indenyl)zirconium dichloride were used. The hydrogen concentration in the gas space of the reactor 15 was 1.8% by volume. The metallocene activity was 227 kg PP/g metallocene h. The polymer is characterized by the further data as follows: Viscosity VN: Average molecular weight Mw: M/Mn: Melting point Tm: Melt flow index MFI: Mean isotactic block length niso: Isotactic index: 230 cm 3 /g 274 500 g/mol 160 0

C

4.0 g/10 min about 100 about 98% Example 4 The procedure was as in Example 1, but two different hydrogen concentrations were used during the polymerization. First, a hydrogen content of 10% by volume was established in the gas space of the reactor and was kept constant by subsequent metering until the propylene pressure in the reactor had fallen to 6 bar as a result of polymerization of propylene. The hydrogen was then reduced to 1.0% by volume by briefly releasing gas, and the polymerization was continued at this hydrogen concentration.

27 mg of the metallocene rac-dimethylsilanediylbis(2ethyl-4-phenyl-l-indenyl)zirconium dichloride were dissolved in 16 ml of solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (corresponding to 25 mmol of Al) and were added to the reactor.

16.2 kg of polymer powder, corresponding to a metallocene activity of 162 kg PP/g metallocene h, were obtained.

The polymer is characterized by the following further data: Viscosity VN: Average molecular weight Mw: MW/Mn: Melting point Tm: Melt flow index MFI: Mean isotactic block length niso: Isotactic index: 245 cm 3 /g 358 000 g/mol 161 0

C

4.6 g/10 min about 100 about 98% Production of the films Example A transparent, single-ply film having a total thickness of 20 4m was produced by stepwise orientation in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The raw material used for the film was: 99.35% by weight 0.15% by weight 0.20% by weight 0.30% by weight of highly isotactic polypropylene from Hoechst AG of stabilizer of antiblocking agent having a mean particle size of 2 im of lubricant The polypropylene homopolymer was prepared in accordance with Example 3. The production conditions in the individual process steps were: Extrusion: Tem-Aeratu1re 280 0

C

e 28 Longitudinal stretching: Transverse stretching: Setting: Temperature Temperature: Transverse stretching ratio: Temperature: Convergence: 120 0

C

160°C 11 150°C .q The film produced in this manner had the properties listed in the Table (first line: Example Example 6 A transparent three-ply film having a symmetrical structure and a total thickness of 16 Am was produced by coextrusion and subsequent stepwise orientation in the longitudinal and transverse direction. The top plies each had a thickness of 0.6 Am.

A-base ply: 99.85% by weight of highly isotactic polypropylene from Hoechst AG 0.15% by weight of antistatic agent The polypropylene of the base raw material was prepared according to Example 3.

B-top plies: 98.77% by weight 0.33% by weight 0.90% by weight of a random ethylene/propylene copolymer having a C 2 content of 4.5% by weight of an antiblocking agent, having a mean particle size of 2 Am of a lubricant The production conditions in the individual process steps were: Extrusion: Temperatures A-ply: 280 0

C

29 Longitudinal stretching: Transverse stretching: Setting: B-ply: Temperature: Longitudinal stretching ratio: Temperature: Transverse stretching ratio: Temperature: Convergence: 280 0

C

120 0

C

160 0

C

11 150 0

C

The film produced in this manner had the properties listed in the Table (Example 6).

Comparative Example 1 In comparison with Example 6, a commercial polypropylene from Hoechst AG was used. The n-heptane-soluble fraction of the film had a chain isotactic index of 93%, measured by means of 13 C-NMR spectroscopy. The Mw/M n was 4.5 and the n-heptane-soluble fraction was 4% by weight.

4 *4 4 S S S 4* *4 .5 5 S S S S S S S S S. 4 S Table Film Water vapor Oxygen Modulus of Tensile Elongation Gloss Haze Scratch Highthickness transmission transmission elasticity strength at break ASTM D resistance temperature DIN53m 2 2 IN 5m 3 d8 bar 5ogi32n 4o5iuin7 DINiuim 5 45 DI 53 55IN6 50 103 2blcharater DI/ 5 2 DI 5m3 d8 DIN 532iuinl 457iuinl DIl345 DN5345 DNo 30 10-2bokngiuna/crct transverse transverse transverse Iistics _I N/mm 2 N/mm 2 A haze N ES 20 1.1 1600 2600/4700 160/320 125/70 140 1.0 8 E6 20 1.25 1650 j 2400/4300 145/310 120/65 j 120 1.9 23 CE1 20 1.3 1900 J 2200/4100 140/300 160/60 100 2.8 28 1.8 E Example; CE Comparative Example B side: roll side B' side: corona or flame treatment side, if this treatment has been carried out 30a Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

a I* a. 9 a a

Claims

1. A biaxially oriented polypropylene film, which has at least one base ply which contains polypropylene, wherein the mean isotactic block length of the polypropylene molecule between two structural chain defects, is as a statistical average, greater than the n-heptane-insoluble fraction of the polypropylene has a chain isotactic index of at least 95%, measured by means of 3 C-NMR spectroscopy, the ratio of the weight average Mw to the number average Mn of the molecular weight distribution is less than 4, and the n-heptane-soluble fraction of the polypropylene is less than 1% and the water vapour transmission is 24/thickness in im [g/m 2 d] and the oxygen transmission is 34,000/thickness in m [cm 3 /(m 2 d bar)]. 15 2. The polypropylene film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base ply contains a polypropylene whose n-heptane-insoluble fraction has a chain isotactic index, measured by means of 3 C-NMR spectroscopy, of at least 96%. I p

3. The polypropylene film as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base ply contains a S 20 polypropylene whose n-heptane-insoluble fraction has a chain isotactic index of at least 97%.

4. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the base ply contains a polypropylene whose Mw/Mn is less than The polypropylene film as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base ply contains a polypropylene whose Mw/Mn is less than 2.7.

6. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, which has a top ply comprising a-olefinic polymers on at least one side. A The polypropylene film as claimed in claim 6, which has a top ply comprising a- l olefinic polymers on both sides. P \WFDOCSw\Lettm\595417.dm810/ M -32-

8. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein interlayer or interlayers on one or both sides and comprising a-olefinic polymers is or are applied between the base ply and the top ply or plies.

9. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the base ply contains an antistatic agent. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the base and/or ply or plies and/or intermediate ply or plies contains or contain neutralising agent and/or stabiliser.

11. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the top ply or plies contains or contain a lubricant and/or an antiblocking agent.

12. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the Sinterlayer or interlayers contains or contain a neutralising agent, a stabiliser, an i antistatic agent and/or an antiblocking agent. 20 13. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the top ply or plies is or are sealable.

14. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the top ply or plies is not or are not sealable. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the thickness of the film is 4 to 100 tm, the base ply accounting for about 40 to 60% of the total thickness.

16. The polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, which is a single-ply film. P:AWPDOCSHjv\Lett,\5957.do-18A/1OOX -33-

17. A process for the production of a polypropylene film as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polymers of the individual plies are heated, compressed and melted in an extruder, the melt corresponding to the individual plies of the film are extruded together simultaneously through a sheet die and the film thus obtained is drawn on a take-off roll, said film cooling and solidifying and the prefilm thus obtained being oriented longitudinally and transversely, the orientation in the longitudinal direction being effected with a longitudinal stretching ratio of 3 1 to 9 1 and that in the transverse direction is effected with a transverse stretching ratio of 4 1 to 12 1.

18. The use of the polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 as a packaging film.

19. The use of the polypropylene film as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 as a laminating film.

20. A biaxially oriented polypropylene film substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples. C

21. Processes for the production of a biaxially oriented polypropylene film substantially 20 as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.

22. Use of a biaxially oriented polypropylene film substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples. 25 Dated this 17th day of January 2000 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft By its Patent Attorneys of Davies Collison Cave